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Illegal Food Stall to Go

A long-standing impasse between an illegal food stall operator and residents of a small corner of Pengkalan Pegoh has finally come to an end. This was made possible by the timely intervention of Dato’ Hamidah Osman, the Executive Councillor for Entrepreneur Development and Adun for Sungai Rapat.

The offending food stall, built by a local on the Simpang Pulai-Pengkalan Pegoh road kerb, is a bane to passers-by and motorists using the road to get to Simpang Pulai. The operator’s habit of discarding kitchen waste and leftovers at the back of the stall has neighbours up in arms over his lack of civic-consciousness. The stench emanating from the back portion of the shanty is a big turn off for those living within the vicinity.

“The fact that the stall is rented out to an illegal is another factor why it should go,” said Hamidah to Ipoh Echo. “It has been around for over seven years and in spite of complaints, the owner persisted,” she added.

Ipoh City Council Secretary, Dato’ Abdul Rahim Mohd Arif, who was at the site along with Dato’ Hamidah confirmed that no operating permit was issued by the council. “The stall is on reserved land and is, therefore, unlawful,” he told Ipoh Echo. The owner was given a week’s notice to demolish the illegal structure failing which the council will proceed to do so in accordance with council by-laws.

Shahar Mohd Mokthar, 56, is irked by the operator’s audacity in expanding his stall that it has now almost completely shut out the façade of his interior decoration shop nearby. “It’s most irresponsible of him to do so,” Shahar protested. He expressed his gratitude to the authorities for resolving the problem despite the passage of time.